“The reality is that this is the first genocide played out in real time, live and documented through social media.”
By Samuel Sweek, Peace and Justice Project
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is almost unimaginably bleak.
But we don’t need to imagine it. Every single day for the past 13 months, we are delivered horrific images of human suffering straight to our smartphones or computer screens. The sight of parents holding the unidentifiable remains of their children in plastic bags, human body parts hanging from the jagged edges of destroyed apartment blocks and the blood-stained journalist protective vests belonging to dead members of the press have become a disturbing norm.
Throughout Israel’s state-sanctioned destruction of Gaza and the Palestinian identity, there have been moments when I have genuinely believed, perhaps with naivety, that the latest display of unthinkable human cruelty on my screen is the worst thing I’ve ever seen or will ever see. But the next day comes with the next blood-curdling result of Netanyahu’s genocide – and the cycle repeats.
The reality is that this is the first genocide played out in real time, live and documented through social media. It is that reality that makes the actions of the British, United States and other Western governments unforgivable.
It is in this context too that Keir Starmer’s response to independent MP Ayoub Khan’s question at a recent Prime Minister’s Questions in Parliament on Israel’s genocide in Gaza all the more shocking. To retort that he “knows what a genocide is”, and that is why he refuses to use the term to describe the atrocities in Gaza as such, is so deeply ignorant and dehumanising that it really makes you wonder what exactly it would take for Starmer to recognise the gravity of the situation and Israel’s blatant attempt to totally erase the Palestinian identity.
Starmer’s spokesperson’s half-hearted response to the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas commander Mohammed Deif (who is believed to be dead), was a revealing example of how the political elite are willing to abandon international law when it concerns breaches by allies.
The British foreign secretary David Lammy is also yet to recognise the ICC’s ruling and the government have been coy on whether or not they would arrest Netanyahu should he set foot on UK soil, as is required by the international arrest warrant.
This is a stark change of tone to when the ICC, rightly, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of war crimes following the appalling invasion of Ukraine. On that occasion, the UK government was quick to issue sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals. In the case of Israel, no sanctions have been applied and the UK government continues to pump arms and military aid into the disgraceful destruction of Gaza where 70% of those slaughtered by the IDF are women and children.
If our Prime Minister will not speak up for the people living through a genocide in Gaza and under siege in the West Bank, then we absolutely must continue to raise our voices for them. We must continue in our demands for an immediate suspension of arms sales to Israel and the consistent application of international law.
Our government’s complicity and callous attitude towards the genocide in Palestine is a stain on humanity and must galvanise more of us than ever to take to the streets at this Saturday’s national demonstration for Palestine.
🚨NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION FOR PALESTINE
— Peace & Justice Project (@corbyn_project) November 27, 2024
Join the march to demand an end to arms sales to Israel and British complicity in the genocide in Gaza this Saturday 30 November.
Assembling on Park Lane from 12PM.#StopArmingIsrael pic.twitter.com/W6wcoJThlP
- Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace and Justice Project is supporting the National Demonstration for Palestine, taking place from 12PM, Saturday 30th November. Marching from Park lane to Whitehall.
- Samuel Sweek is the Media Co-Ordinator for Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace & Justice Project. You can follow Samuel on Twitter/X; and the PPJ on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X.
- If you support Labour Outlook’s work amplifying the voices of left movements and struggles here and internationally, please consider becoming a supporter on Patreon.
What will it take for Starmer to recognise the atrocities of the Israeli Government… he’s either not very bright or a psychopath? Zero ability to comprehend the pain and suffering OR couldn’t care less? Either way, he’s not fit to be “Leader of the Labour Party” (or in any position of authority).
Regarding concerns on nuclear war, and also concerns regarding investing in nuclear power: again, not very bright.
Re. the gross stupidity and greed of accepting ludicrously expensive “gifts”… and the undemocratic punishing of decent Labour MPs for behaving like decent Labour MPs…on so many levels, he confirms he is unfit for purpose.